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| Posted by roblear chesscomputer.net 8/09/2008 10:55:49 Play online chess |  Subject: am i right?Message: i've noticed that higher rated players don't seem to play pawn moves such as a3 to prevent Nb4 or Bb4, or conversely h3 to attack the g4 square. i've often used these kinds of moves in the past, but i don't see them much from better players. maybe it's a reflection on my poor development? | ||||||||
| Posted by tim_b chesscomputer.net 8/09/2008 13:15:45 Play online chess | Message: | ||||||||
| Posted by ionadowman chesscomputer.net 8/09/2008 16:13:49 Play online chess | Possibly... Message: When making the piece move, the mover ought already to have planned a response to an attack by a flank pawn: an exchange on the c-file (if it's a bishop); a sac on f7 (if you've just played Ng5); a retreat - and where to? Sometimes it's not a bad idea fort White, say, to develop a bishop at d2 via g5, losing a tempo, but inducing a small but exploitable weakness in Black's K-side. I've done that myself. On the Black side of a Sicilian Defence, ...a6 is often useful even if it doesn't hit a bishop, partly as apreparation for a central thrust, but also because Q-side expansion is on Black's agenda anyway. So 1.e4 c5. 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, the Najdorf Variation, is a very popular line. That little move hides a good deal of aggression. The Sicilian Kan System also involves an early ...a6. Conversely, the Two Knights' Defence often features an early advance of a White Knight to g5: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5!? ... I think the debate whether this is sttronger than 4.0-0, 4.d4 or 4.d3 is still ongoing. Of course it's pointless hitting the knight now. Black will usually play 4...d5 5.exd5 and now 5...Nxd5 is very risky owing to the enormous attack White whips up: the Fegatello, a.k.a. the Fried Liver: 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 (forced if Black wants to keep the material); 8.Nc3 Ncb4 (the irony of it!) 9.a3! (biffing the knight , hoping to dislodge it fronm its defence of d5. The fork on c2 looks tempting, at that!) 9...Nxc2+ 10.Kc1 Nxa1 11.Nxd5 etc. All this is theory, which continues for several moves more yet. Black has better alternatives at move 5, 5,,,Na4, the "Main" line turning out rather well for Black, despite the pawn deficit. But even at move 4, Black can seriously consider ignoring the attack on f7 by playing 4...Bc5!? Now, if 5.Nxf7 Black has the astonishing 5...Bxf2+!! 6.Kxf2!? (6.Kf1 may be better) ...Nxe4+ 7.Kg1 (I had someone play 7.Ke1?? against me once on GK 7...Qh4+ 8.g3 Nxg3 9.Rg1 Ne5+ 10.Rg3 Nxg3 0-1) 7...Qh4 with an attack probably strong enough at least to balance White's. The alternate capture at f7, 5.Bxf7+, less ambitious is perhaps the harder for Black to meet: 5...Ke2 whereupon White usually retires the bishop to b3 or d5. In the following OTB game, the presence and absence of the flank pawn moves under discussion prove to have further impact: White: N.N. Black: IAD 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke2 6.Bb3 Rf8 7.0-0 h6 The first of the flank pawn moves, played to drive back the knight, and relieve some of the pressure on the light squares - in other words, to prepare to advance the d-pawn. 8.Nf3 d6 w 9.d3?! ... Now this is one point where White might have been better advised to prevent Black's next move by 9.h3! 9...Bg4! Threatening, among other things, to bring a knight in to d4 thence to break up White's K-side pawns. 10.Be3 ... (10.c3 came into consideration) 10... Nd4 11.Bxd4 Bxd4 12.c3 Bb6 13.Nbd2 Qd7 14.Qc2 Rae8 15.h3? ... b A real bad-luck pawn. Correct at move 9, here it is merely weakening: 15...Bxh3! Something you sometimes have to watch for if you want to biff bishops! 16.gxh3 Qxh3 17.Nh2 ... Played to protect g4, but maybe a strike at the centre by 17.d4 offered more hope? 17...Ng4! 18.Nxg4 Qxg4+ 19.Kh1 Qh3+ 20.Kg1 Rf4 21.Qd1 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Rh4#. I guess in the end you have to think beyond the flank pawn move, and indeed beyond the piece moves against which the flank pawn move is directed, whether as an attack or a deterrent. If the move is part of a longer term plan, or if allowing a piece to land on the "Knight-5" square will really cause you trouble (as indeed it can, quite often) then probably it's OK, but if it's "off the cuff" or "can't think of anything better to do right now", then it's probably un-OK. Cheers, Ion ——— Ukraine Leads Chess Olympiad; Russia Has Clinched Women's Title — With one round to go in the biennial Chess Olympiad, in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, the team from Ukraine leads the open section with Russia 1 (the top Russian team) in second and Israel in third. In the women’s division, Russia’s top team has already locked up the gold medal by winning all its matches. China is in second and four teams are tied for third. The final round is Sunday. Since Ukraine and Russia have already played, Ukraine will face Israel, while Russia 1 takes on Spain, which is among a group of five teams tied for fourth. Led by Vassily Ivanchuk, who won his first six games, Ukraine, the No. 2 seed, took the lead in Round 7 and has managed to hold it by drawing with Russia 1, the top seed, in ... Posted by savage4731 | chesscomputer.net 8/09/2008 19:55:57 Play online chess Message: 1) It wastes a move that could be used to develop a piece. 2) You can always play it after the pin without a loss of time. 3) It weakens the kingside pawns. 4) Pins arent always bad. For example, the Bxf7+ then Ng5+ then Qxg4 sac. Or the Bg4, Be2, Nd4, Nxd4 trick. Also, using the g-file to attack after Bxf3, gxf3. Also, Legall's mate. 5) The h3 pawn can become a target esp for bishop sacs. 6) After h3, g3 can become weak. Esp. If black is pinning the f2 pawn with a bishop. 7) If your opponent captures the knight with the bishop that gives you the two bishops. 8) Its a bad habit to get into: i.e. making mechanical moves and not paying attention. 9) Its passive. Which not only hurts your chances in the game but passive play will slow down your development as a player. 10) You shouldnt automatically assume things like doubled pawns are bad. 11) You should be careful with pawn moves because you cant move them back. 12) You should be playing to control the center in the opening not making pointless flank pawn moves. 13) When I see those kinds of moves against me I know its usually an easy win. 14) A lot of times beginners will think they can easily win a pawn. For example: 1.e4, e5 2. Nf3, Nc6 3. Bb5, a6 4. Bxc6, dxc6 5. Nxe5. But they miss 5...Qd4!. Chess isnt that simple otherwise no one would play it. If you find yourself losing pawns like that its because you're making mistakes and/or not seeing the whole position not because you didnt prevent the pin in the first place. Usually beginners make that kind of move because they're afraid of missing something. Its better not to play out of fear but to play your best and if you make a mistake to learn from it. ——— Magnus Carlsen plays the maverick but Michael Adams plays it canny — England experienced highs and lows in successive rounds at the Chess Olympiad this week and will do well to reach a top-15 finish in Sunday's final round. In round six Norway's boards 2-4 looked outgunned, so British chess champion Michael Adams v world No1 Magnus Carlsen seemed a critical pairing. Carlsen's opening three moves shocked the chess world: 1 e4 g6 2 d4 Nf6?! 3 e5 Nh5?! It appears a novice choice but is the North Sea Defence, has been tried by a few maverick chess grandmasters, and offers a pawn for active play by 4 Be2 d6 5 Bxh5 gxh5 6 Qxh5 dxe5 7 dxe5 Rg8. Adams preferred a slight risk-free edge but Carlsen's position was solid until his fresh provocations 18...g5? ... Posted by roblear | chesscomputer.net 8/10/2008 03:36:25 Play online chess am i right?Message: thanks again rob ——— At Chess Olympiad, No Team Is Perfect — It turns out that no team is capable of running away from the field at the Chess Olympiad, at least in the open section. Monday, the last three undefeated and untied teams in the competition — Hungary, Armenia and the Republic of Georgia — failed to win their matches. Armenia and Georgia played each other and drew, while Hungary lost to Ukraine. Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine are now tied for the lead with five wins and one draw, for a total of 11 points each. The two top Russian teams, Poland, the United States, Azerbaijan and Hungary are tied for fourth, each with 10 points. In the women’s portion of the Chess Olympiad, one team — the top one from Russia — remains perfect, though ... Posted by savage4731 | chesscomputer.net 8/14/2008 13:53:29 Play online chess roblearMessage: ——— Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Re-elected as World Chess Federation President — Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was re-elected as president of the World Chess Federation on Wednesday. Mr. Ilyumzhinov reportedly defeated Anatoly Karpov, the former world chess champion, by a vote of 99 to 55. Each country in the federation, which is also known by the acronym FIDE (for Fédération Internationale des Échecs), had one vote. Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s new term runs to 2014; he has been president of FIDE since 1995. The election was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, where the biennial Chess Olympiad is also being played. As part of Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s ticket, Georgios Makropoulos of Greece was re-elected deputy president; Lewis Ncube of Zambia and Beatriz Marinello ... Posted by roblear | chesscomputer.net 8/23/2008 03:36:00 Play online chess to savage4731Message: rob ——— Ivanchuk Dominates Chess Olympiad — The chess olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia is in full swing, moving into the second half. The Open section has 149 teams listed, nearly 750 chess players. The women section has 115 teams, roughly 575 chess players. Head and shoulders above all players stands Vasyl Ivanchuk. The 41-year old Ukrainian grandmaster smashed everything coming his way so far, winning five straight games and amassing a giant 3357 performance rating. On Tuesday, Ivanchuk added his sixth victory against the Georgian GM Baadur Jobava. His team leads the chess olympiad after seven rounds, having won six matches and drawing one. The 11-round olympiad concludes Sunday, October 3. Ivanchuk was ... |